Lehr temperature control



March 13, 1951 A- H, BAKER 2,544,947

LEHR TEMPERATURE CONTROL March 13, 1951 A. H. BAKER LEHR TEMPERATURE CONTROE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 19. 1946 gru/UWM HRV/0 H. EHKER March 13, 1951 A. H. BAKER 2,544,947

LEHR TEMPERATURE CONTROL Filed Jan; 19, 194e 3 sheets-sheet 5 mi @mE/iw;

would@ Patented Mar. 13, 1951 UNiTElzil STATES PATENT Luna TEMRATR. delimiter.

Arvid H; Baker, Part Aue'gany;-Pa.-,- assi'gnoi cel Pittsburgh'y Corning Corporation, Allegheny Coun-tm Pa., a corporationof-f' Pennsylvania- Application January, 19, 19.46, SerialNo.,6/42,-163

13l Claims. lv

The present` inventionrelates to processes 'of and apparatus for annealing glass materials by cooling them gradually from a temperature above the critical range down to a temperature at which they can be handled. They invention has. particular. relation. to processesv of and apparatus. for annealing cellulated. glass ofi the type obtained by heating' to the sintering point a mixture of' finely crushed glass and a suitable gassin'g agent', such asv carbon.black lamp black.v or the like.

One. object ofthe invention is to provide' alehr system which is highly stable in operation and which involves a minimum of' controls in order to maintain a. desired' temperature gradient'.

A second object is to provide a lehr system in which a predetermined gradient of temperature from end to end ofthey lehr caribe maintained withv a4 high degree. of'aoouracy.

Athird object is to provide alehr system suitable for annealing cellular glass slabs or other articles of considerable height in which the temperature in the lehr in a given zoney is. relatively uniform from top to bottom.

A- fourth object is to obviate fluctuations in' the operation. of the lehr due to changes in 'the weather.

A' fth object .is to obtain control'of the temperature and movements ofi the ambient: air in the room about the annealing lehr's'.

These and other obects of the invention will be apparent from consideration. of the following specication and the. appended claims.

It has heretofore been proposed to manufacture bodies of relatively light weight which are sub'- stantially impermeableftowater and moisture and which have a high resistance to heat transmission, by mixing finely powdered glass and a reducing agent, such as carbon black, andl heating the mixture in suitable molds until the glass particles are sintered andi cohered together and simultaneously gases are generated within the sintered mass iny order to cause 'it to bloat or cellulate. The resultant bodies comprise a froth of small cells or bubbles, of' exceedingly light weight andl being excellently adapted for many commercial uses. c

In the manufacture of slabs or blocks of such materiaL. extremely high loss is often experienced in the annealing operations. In accordance with the provisions-of the present invention these losses can be explained, in part at least, as iollows 'The material', by reason of its high resistance to heat transmission, requires much time in `cool-- :ing Vin its interior. The time required in such f of' conventional glass articles'. BY reason off the cellular structure, the' mechanical' strength ofthe bodies is' relatively low,.a small' fractipn'of'that of: ordinary glassmarliesV o'f: equal weignnsg that the' ware is particularly'subject to breakage by thermal'stres's'or' shock', `suoli as may attend-too rapid changes of temperaturejeven""changes so slight that Vthey would not affect conventional glassware of normal density. Furthermorathe slabs or blocks, as obtained by tlrejsinterirrgofthe glass and gassing agent, are usually vquitelailjge being, for' example, 1'8' inches or'Z feetirrjheiglit. Conventiona'lly,' they are annealed upon a traveling' belt' in a 'continuous'type 'lhl' While'they are set, upon edge. inspaced' relation.k It'will* be apparent that in a lehr 'of suncient height' to permit the' passage of'. bodies o'r'this size,'jthere' is considerabletende'ncy' for conventional movement of gases. As the' hot'gase's rise' between the slabs or' blocks, relatively 1 sharp temperature gradients are' likely to be' set up.` Tests indicate that, if 'c'onvectionis' unopposed, these" dineren- 'tials may be as high as '100v or '200' F; between the top and' theA biottom'edgesor the slabs.` Such gradients' may' easily produce stresses andv strains in the slabs'wnicn will cause' cracking and'checking'. It nowA appears that changes' imthej'atrnosphere' in and' about 'the lehr produce'djby accidentaldrafts in thelehr'room or.' changesgin the weather may.' produce' cracking. and' breaking ofthe ware. Y In accordance with the' provisionsdfjthe present inventiomcheckll'ig and' breakage ofthe ware has been reduced` or substantially' eliminated, firstly,` Aby division of the lehr' Yinto` a. plurality Vof temperature zones ineach o' which heat is individually added' or subtracted to attain the desired ,temperature and at the same time the gases varecirculated vertically within these individual zones to prevent thermal stratication and Vlfillout undue mingling of the gases ofl onezone with gases in contiguous zones. l

Secondly, the invention contemplates` the provision 'of a system whereby the ambient airjfrom end to end of the. lehrV is maintained at' anrelatiaely uniform' temperature at all times and in which the circulation of' the atmosphere'about theflehr is controlled tof o'bviate accidental' drafts'andipronounced temperature changes;

For a better understanding 4 of the invention, reference may now be had' tic, theac'companying drawings in ,whichl 'likel numerals refer to 'like parts throughout.

fware during its passage through the lehr.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a sectional View transverse of a lehrk system embodying the principles of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view taken longitudinally f a lehr system embodying the invention.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional View through substantially one half of a lehr embodying the principles of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on a horizontal plane illustrating the baiiies for diffusion of the gases in the lowerA zone of the lehr.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially upon the line V--V of Fig. v1 showing on an enlarged scale a fan structure for circulating air in the lehr room.

Fig. 6` is a fragmentary sectional view of a shut- .ter mechanism for controlling the lehr room temperature.

. In the practice of the invention, molds containing appropriate charges of crushed glass and a reducing agent, such as carbon black are passed .through a roller hearth type furnace lo disposed in a room ii of a suitable enclosing building I2. The 'roller hearth furnace preferably embodies heating means such as gas burners (not shown) and a conveyor system designed to carry. the molds slowly through the furnace .through'a'period of time sufficient to permit adequate sintering and cellulation of the contents of the molds. At the exit end of the furofl the furnace room from the lehr loading chamber l5. The molds containing the freshly formed cellulated bodies are discharged into the lehr loading chamber i5 in which are disposed loading ends of the lehrs iii of long, tunnel type. In the chamber the molds are stripped and cellulated slabs il are then passed to a conveyor system'i running longitudinally of the lehr and dividing same into upper and lower zones. A par- ,tition '9 shuts o'the chamber i5 from lehr room 2li containing any number of lehrs desired, e. g. 6,

disposed in spaced'parallel relation. Each cori- Yve'yor system includesl a flexible foraminous belt A2l which preferably is formed of a mesh of chain links of an appropriate material such as heat .resisting steel and being carried by a system Vof rollers 22 journaled in bearings 23 and being driven by suitable means (not shown). This belt l2i substantially divides the lehr vertically into upper and lower zones. The slabs or blocks are set on edge in spaced relation, upon belt 2l, in

`position to occupy a minimum of horizontal space, while permitting gases to circulate freely vertically from the lower into the upper lehr zone. f In the annealing of cellular slabs or blocks, the

'annealing period is quite long, for example, vtwenty hours or more dependent upon the thick- 'ness of the ware and for this reason the tunnel lehr itself must be of considerable length in order to admit of a suiiicient time for annealing of the The lehr is divided into a multiplicity (e. g. 20 or 30) .of short sections or temperature zones. A length of about ve feet has been found to be satisfactory for such temperature zones although, of course, a certain degree of variation either shorter or'l'onger is permissible.

Fig. 3 constitutes a fragmentary section zones which may be regarded as typical of all.

:nace a partition or screen i@ is provided shutting The opposite side is essentially symmetrical with the side shown. It embodies means for circulating the gases individually within each temperature zone without any great tendency of the gases to progress longitudinally of the lehr more than is necessary to maintain a gradual gradient in temperature from one zone to the contiguous zone and also to permit escape of the gases introduced into the lehr. In the embodiment of the apparatus shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings, the lehr comprises a bottom 25, top wall 28 and side walls 2l. Each top wall 2&3 has an oiset therein formed by wall il which is connected to side wall 2 by means of wall @2. The conveyor belt 2l is disposed intermediately of top wall 2t and bottom wall 25 of the lehr and upon its attendant rollers 22 to substantially divide the lehr vertically into top and bottom zones.

Disposed longitudinally of each side wall 2'1 are lehr gas circulation' ducts 28, the outer wall of which is formed by lehr wall 21, the inner wall being partition 29 and the side walls extending between wall 2l and partition 29 to complete the duct. The top of each duct is closed by a top wall 32. Adjacent the upper end of each duct 2S is an inlet aperture 33 in partition and at the bottom of each duct is an outlet aperture in partition 29 preferably provided with a horizon- 'tally extending hood 3|.

i eans for controlling the temperature and circulation of gases within each duct 28 includes an ambient atmosphere inlet lil, a gas burner i4 'and'fan 34. The ambient atmosphere inlet comprises an opening 4l' in the lehr top wall i2 advjacent each duct 28 and is controlled by a frustoconical damper i3 which can be carried in any convenient manner and which can be adjusted manually or automatically by suitable thermo- '27. This shaft is journaled in appropriate bearings 35 mounted upon any convenient support E? and provided at its outer extremity with a suitable pulley 38 driven by suitable means such as al belt and motor (not shown). As will be 0bserved upon reference to Fig. 3, each duct 28 is in draft connection with the upper zone of the lehr and the oiset portion of the lehr top wall containing the inlet il and burner fit, through inlet 33 of the duct. 'Io improve the effectiveness of such draft connection, there is mounted upon the roof wall ii a suitable deiiectcr is disposed opposite to the duct inlet 33 for the purpose of simultaneously deecting lehr gases drawn from above the belt 2i and cooling or heating gases from above the duct.

A baille system for difusing and directing the circulating gases in the lower `lehr zone is illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings. These baffles comprise longitudinally extending rows of members staggered transversely of the lehr. The front row comprises curved plates disposed in pairs, the rst pair being indicated as 5d and 5l of approximately semi-circular section and being in spaced relation with the space 52 providing a bell mouth passage substantially directly opposite the outlet 3i of the nue 28. As shown a portion of the gases from the flue will passethrough. thebell mouth.: and a portion will be baiiiedand deflected backwardly toward the sides of thelehr asl-.indicated by thearrows in Fig. 4.

The .portion of the; gases passingi between the plates Edand 5i. is directed. againsttheaapexor cusp of the baies 53fand 54. Thesepreferably are of an arc of.approximately'90'andthe contiguous edges thereoimeetzinsucha manner-that the gasesA flow` across thalehr andare deflected at approximately. rightangles. and; are agai-ndi rected. at right angles. between adjacentv plates ofthe next set of baiiles, 'I-'hezstreamofgases striking the plate 5,4', for examplaaredeiiected back by the .plate ofthe contiguous setinto the zone .between b'aliie. 5S and the contiguous bafie di. of: the adjacentset.- It will thus bep-.seen thatthere. is sumcientcominglingof the gases froml the different nues to avoid abrupt changes in temperature betweenzones, but without .substational progress of the gases asa-bodyaxially of the lehr except as required to permit gasesto flow. out. If desired, coverv plates imay.. also be placed over the b-aflies and Edin order to assist in the thorough c'omingling and distribution of the gases. The gases after being deec'ted bythe bafies' gradually riseupwardly; probably spirally about a vertical axis,.and passthroughthe ioraminous supporting bel-1312i upon which the cellular slabs H are disposedvand between the slabs wh-erethey exerttheir' coolingaction. They then pass upwardly and outwardly through the throat 33 ofthe `flue .2d for reconditioning and recycling. The now of gases is maintainedsuiciently vigorousto prevent. any substantial variationof temperature at different levels above the conveyor belt 2i.

It will be apparent that the damper'l 48,- .the burner lila-nd. the fan 3d can be adjusted manuall-y lto obtain-the desired temperaturewithin the zone ofthe lehr inwhich these agencies are disposed. By reason of the inherent stability of. the system due impartto the uniformityof the atmosphere about the lehr (which constitutes subject for further discussion-in-another-portionV of the specication), only occasional` manual Vrhanipulation will be recluiredin most of thezones of the-lehr. However, `if preferred the system can be controlled automatically or certain-zones of the system, for eX-amplathe first few Zones at y the entrance of the lehr, can be controlled automatically by reeansof thermostatic mechanism of any appropriate design. El'ementssuitable for usel in such thermostatic control system are well known in the art and generally canbe purchased commercially. Therefore, the elements are to b-e indicated herein merely diagrammatically.-

Theoontrol system may conveniently include a therinocouple 5i disposed in a suitable portion of the lehr system. It may, forexample, be disposedbelow the conveyor belt carrying'the cel-lul'ar glass blocks or slabs to be annealed. This thermocouple is connected by eond'uctorsf with a suitable relay mechanism 59j for amplication ofthe relatively weak currents generated by the thermocouple, the relay mechanism in turn being provided-with electrical conductors l -forsupplying the necessary power for operation. The relay also includesr a conduit 62* for supplying iuid' under pressure. Appropriate valves (net shown) are provided forl the conduit S12 for automatic -control by therelay mechanism. Conduits rand 5t from the conduit 62 `are connected respectively to the upper and lower extremities of anv actuatingcylinder 6-6 which is provided-with 6 piston. mechanism S'lvconnected by link 68-fto ythe operating lever .69 l0f;tl'1er valve. 48. The lever :may be, pivoted at an. intermediate portionquponxa suitable-fulcrum lt. upon any, cdnvenientf support. Dash, pot 'i2` retards movementsofY the piston vmechanism 61.`

Conduit ed is also joined;by conduit rH5-'toa the diaphragm chamber of a diaphragm valve` 'H which vvalve is disposed in the fuel` line; 46j in `order to controlzthe `supply of fuelto the burner lef It will be apparent .that whennthe. temperature. within'the rflue ESreacheS-La predetermined point,` the pressure Ythrough'the-.line 16 changed to open orclose the valve 'Il thus regulating; the supply. ofY fuel to theburner.`

Usually, control .cfa single factor, namely,ythe airinletdl or the feedoitgas to .thevburnerd Iis adequate to maintainxthe temperature; of thezone inthe lehr. This isv especially true after the lehr .has been. operating sufficiently' long` toiattain stability. rTherefore', itis desirabieto-.adjust only a single element, namely, the burner :t4 or the' air inlet,rdependent. uponthez` position of the burner in the series, to maintain ytheoperatingtemperature. Tothis end, `valves liare disposed'in linesr 63; .6.4, and 16,' so that byopening or closing ofthe valves one. or-theother 'control can be renderedinoperative. It willberapparent that on some units one control can'bezcut out while on others the other controltisirendered inoperative. It is reiterated that :most-.usually only certain key zones on a lehr such asrith'efiirst tivo or three Y:zones at theentrance andzp'erliaps the last few zones require. automatic control. lThe rest can beset. manually andonly/require adjustment aty rarev intervals.

Apparatus for controlling .the temperature and preventing uncontrolled c'irculationof'the atmosphere about the lehrs includes the screens orfbarrier iii and 69 already referred'to forpurposesof preventingcirculation of gases of the zoneabout the roller hearth furnacev l@ into chamber. 2D. For purposes of further. controlling .the temperature in the atmosphere, ventilatorcolumns or stacks a'are provided extending abovefth'e roof of the building and being provided with ycovers 8i having skirts 82'designed toprevent entrance of rain while permittinglthefree.- entrance of gases into the stack. .Any number of these' stacks may be provided.' However, for purposes of obtaining uniformity of circulation, a .plurality is preferred. Usually they will be spaced about. 2O feet longitudinallyof the building.

BelowVr the roof of thebuilding, the :stack is provided with a fan of coaxialtypef indicated at 83 and including a restricted' throat portion .Se and upper and lower taper portions` 85 and 86. Within the throat is disposed; the` fan mechanism best illustrated in Fig. 5 and includingfan blades 81 preferably of propeller typeradiating from the lower extremity of va shaft which extends downwardly from a motor 89.`- This motor is carried b'ybraces 9B disposed transversely in the throat portion 84 of the stack.

Atthe lower extremity of each stack is disposed a transverseconduit SI having downwardly directed branches 92 designed to discharge air in the space between the lehrs. 1t will be apparent that the branches may beA provided with dampers 93 which maybe ofthe simplest type and may be adjusted manually; After the-system is once set, regulationV of the dampers is seldom required.

l It will be` apparent tha'tiunder'certain atmospheric conditions, for example',H in 'very 'cold Weather it may be desirable to reduce the proportion of cold air introduced from the outside of the lehr building While at the same time maintaining the relatively vigorous circulation of the gases in the room for purposes of overcoming natural drafts which might cause chilling in one section of the room while other sections were overheated.

To this end penthouses 94 are provided upon the roof upon opposite sides of the stacks 85 and are connected with the stacks by means of con* duits S6. These penthouses collect the heated air from the upper portion oi the room for recirculation through the stacks 80. In order to regulate the proportion of heated air thus recirculated, each of the conduits 95 is provided with shutters 9i preferably of the Venetian blind type and being interconnected at one edge by means of a vertical bar g8. This bar as shown in Fig. 6 is in turn connected by a link 99 to the extremity of a plunger IGI. This plunger is operated by suitable electromagnetic device of conventional design in a housing 62 upon any convenient support.

For purposes of automatically controlling the dampers to obtain the desired temperature in the lehr room, the electromagnetic device E02 is connected to a source or" electrical power comprising bus bars |03, |04 the latter of which is connected at one extremity to a bimetallic strip It of conventional design secured to a support 61. Upon opposite sides of this strip are disposed contact points |08 and |09 designed to be contacted by the strip in event of slight movements of the strip from normal posi-.ion as a result of temperature changes. The points are connected by means of conductors lll and H2 to the electromagnetic device in order to actuate the device upon any substantial change of the temperature from normal. It will be apparent that conduits ill and H2 are connected into the system in such manner that contact of the bimetallic element with one point results in opening of the shutters While contact with the other point results in closing movements so that to reduce or out out the recirculation ci heated air from above the lehr to the chamber. It will be obvious that the construction disclosed for operating the shutters automatically is merely for purposes of illustration. Mechanism suitable for the purpose is a commercial commodity and it is not believed that detailed illustrations of suitable apparatus for the purpose is required. It will be apparent that the bimelallic elements IGS may be disposed in any K typical or strategic portion of theV lehr chamber or room which may seem feasible or expedient. Also as many bielements as desired may be employed. For example, one bimetallic element for each of the transverse conduits 95 may be employed or, if preferred, all of the shutter mechanisms may be controlled by a single bimetallic element suitably connected to electrical operators.

It will be also apparent that only a portion of the ventilators may be provided with automatic controlled devices while the remainder of the stacks are controlled by manually operated shutters to obtain the desired recirculation of air in the lehrroom.

The stacks and their attendant ducts, in eiiect divide the lehr room into a series of circulation zones much the same as the lehr is divided into zones. Independent control or the temperature lin each zone could be employed, but usually is not necessary. The stacks are sufliciently large and I numerous to maintain a vigorous turnover of air in the room, overcoming accidental drafts and drifts and breaking up stagnant pockets. An average turnover or cycle of the air about every two to eight minutes is desirable. Such turnover, of course, involves the cool air from the stacks and the warm air from the room mixed with it. The air in the lehr room may be maintained under slight pressure, e. g. .01 to 1 inch of water, to assist in preventing accidental air through doors, Windows or other openings in the building.

YFor removal of air from the lehr room or chamber 28 natural leakage may be relied upon. However, controlled removal of air may also be provided for. To this end openings may be provided in partition I9. These openings H4 mat be provided below the conveyor belts 2l so that the air flows out into the mold stripping chamber I5. To assist in exhausting the gases and dust from this chamber a stack |13 is provided and is provided with a fan (not shown) rotating to draw the gases entering the chamber upwardly and to discharge them to the atmosphere.

In the operation of the apparatus, the thermostatic elements IBB are adjusted to open or close the shutters 91 in conduits 9E, upon any slight variation, for example, 3 or 4 from a predetermined normal for the lehr chamber. In cold Weather the shutters will be open to a considerable degree or completely or will be open a relatively large proportion of the time so that a great deal of air in Warm state is withdrawn from the upper portion of the lehr chamber, mixed with a relatively small amount of cold air and recycled to the chamber. As the temperature goes up the dampers Will close or partially close to reduce the amount of Warm air introduced into the system and correspondingly to increase the amount of cold air. In warm Weather, on the other hand, the dampers will be partially or completely closed or will close at frequent intervals and for considerable periods of time so that only a small amount of warm air is recycled and most of the air is relatively cold from outside the building. Thus, the tempera- Yture within the room containing the lehrs is drifts or movements of hot or cold air about the room to induce unexpected changes in the conditions Within the lehr.

Within the lehr itself, the atmosphere in each short zone can be maintained in vigorous circulation Without greatly influencing the circulation in the contiguous zones and the tempera ture in each sone can be adjusted to obtain a desired gradient of temperature from zone to zone Without greatly disturbing the contiguous zones. When the controls for a given zone have once been set to desired values the setting is maintained Without further adjustment, at least for long periods of time because of uniformity of the atmosphere Within the lehr room. Such small changes in the lehr temperature as may occur by reason ci variations in the loading of the lehr or other factors are easily corrected by automatic controls disposed in the zones contiguous to the entrance of the lehr or in other strategic sections.

The forms of the invention herein shown and rdescribed'are tofbe regarded merelyas exemplary. It will be v'apparent' tofthose skilled in fthe f art thatinumerous.modifications ma-ybeA made there- 'rinrwithout departure'from the'. spirit of the invention or .the scopelofA the appended..claims.

I claim: 1. In aiprocess' ofv annealing. cellular: glass slabs --in which the' slabsaredisposed in spaced,`vertical positionupon a foraminous lconveyor 4system moving slowly'through an-annealing lehr `in a l-hcrizontalfplane near the .middle of the lehr, the step of discharging annealing Agases -below "the Aconveyor system transversally of the lehr,

causing the gases to spiral upwardly about. a

l vertical axis .f andv pass through.v thev conveyor `and between the-slabs in aomultipli'city of 'short zones,

`individually collecting the gases from'each zone 'at the top of thelehr and returning them to their individual starting points below theconveyor l"systern' without substantial movement longitudinally of the lehr, the temperatures of the zones being graduated downwardly from zone to zone.

2. Apparatus for annealingicellularglass slabs, comprising a tunnel-like lehr, a iorarninous,k conveyor belt adapted to support cellular'glass slabs in vertical position upon one edge disposed to hprovide substantial. spaces abovevand below the VYbelt, means for gradually cooling slabs of glass vupon'theconveyor belt comprising a series of Yvertical conduits disposed vat Vshort intervals ralongieach side of the lehr,fians in the conduits lfor circulating the gases in thelehr, eachcon- Aduit having-zan outlet for thegases below-the conveyor belt, baille meansbelow the belt for Vfcausing-the gases to rotate horizontally and spiral upwardly and an inlet above-fthe conveyor .belt

whereby gases are circulated cyclically in a zone Ytransverse of the axis ofthe lehr substantially '.individuallyin each "zone and l a means for congases to rotate horizontally and spiral upwardly and an inlet above the conveyor belt whereby gases are circulated in a zone cyclically in a path substantially at right angles to the axis of the lehr substantially individually in each zone and means for controlling the temperature of each zone individually and means in the lehr for controlling the operation of the temperature controlling means automatically responsive to variations in the temperature of the lehr.

4. Apparatus for annealing cellular glass cornprising a horizontal, tunnel-like lehr, a foraininous conveyor belt adapted to support cellular glass slabs in vertical position upon one edge, the belt being in a horizontal plane substantially spaced from the top and bottom of the lehr, means for cooling slabs of glass upon the conveyor belt comprising a series of vertical ilues disposed at short intervals along the sides of the lehr, fans in the lues, each flue having outlet discharging gases transversely below the conveyor belt and an inlet for withdrawing gases above the conveyor belt, whereby gases are circulated 1inl zones 'cyclically 1in alnpath:substantially` .at

"right f angles to the "axis 4rof the l-lehr and subf stantially individually in each' zone. a 'set of lbaiiies disposed opposite each voutlet for gases f below the conveyor belt'saidibaflles ina set comprising two bales of approximately.'semi-circular caused to circulate upwardly in a spiral path @and-f means! `for rcontrolling Lthe .temperature of the gases circulating througheach flue.

5. Apparatusforf'annealing cellular'glass slabs lor blocks. comprising. a 'tunnel-like lehr, a foraihinous conveyorbeltdisposed in a horizontal plane:substantially'spaced from the'top and lbottom ofthe lehr andi beingad'apted to support the cellular glass slabs or blocks inverticalpositioniupona'o'ne edge,` meansfor 'gradually cooling 'theslabsor blocksupon the conveyor belt comlprising-a series of overiabout'20 of'vertical ues disposedfat the sides. ofthe lehr, .fans in the flues Afor-circulating gases-in the lehr, each' nue 'having outlet' for gases below the conveyor belt =baiilesbelowthe conveyor belt forV spreading' the gasesh'oriz'ontally and spiraling them` upwardly `and an inlet 'above the conveyor VbeltA whereby gases -are circulated'cyclically `in a zone'trans- -versein the axis of the .lehr substantially individually in each zone and means for controlling 'the ltemperature of each zone individually and 1 means disposed in' the lehr and being operatively connected 'to said-"temperature control, means Vfor'automatically adiusting the temperature in order toY maintainV substantial' uniformity of 'temperature infthelehrfat all times.

5. -Apparatus for annealing'cellular glassy compr-icing ahorizontal, tunnel-'like lehr, a forami- -nous' conveyorfbelt -adapted to support 'cellular glass slabs in vertical position upon one edge, the belt being in a horizontal plane substantially spaced from the topand bottom of the lehr, means n ing gases above the conveyor belt, whereby gases are circulated in zonesl cyclically in a path substantially at right angles to the axis of the lehr and substantially individually in each zone a set of baies disposed opposite each outlet for gases below the conveyor belt, said baffles in a set comprising two bafles of approximately semi-circular horizontal section disposed in spaced relation to provide a bell mouth outlet and a set of bales curved horizontal section meeting in an apex opposite the outlet between the first two bailles whereby the gases passing about the baies are caused to circulate upwardly in a spiral path and means for controlling the temperature of the gases circulating through each llue.

7. Annealing apparatus comprising in combination a lehr tunnel, a foraminous conveyor means yfor advancing materials being annealed through the lehr tunnel and dividing the same into upper and lower zones, a longitudinally extending series of transversely opposed ducts along side walls of the lehr tunnel, each opposing pair of ducts having inlet openings in the upper zone and outlet openings in the lower zone for circulation `oi? tunnel gases from the upper to the lower zone,

l1 means individual to each duct for controlling the temperature of gases circulated therein and baffle means in the lower zone adjacent each outlet for diffusing the discharged gases for substantial uniform upward movement in transverse zones between opposing ducts.

8. Annealing apparatus according to claim '7 wherein the baiiie means comprises a plurality of members disposed transversely of the lehr between each opposing pair of ducts and arranged to deect portions of the gas stream discharged from' each duct while permitting other portions of the gas stream to pass for similar deflection adjacent the mid portion of the lehr.

9. Annealing apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the baffle means comprises rows of spaced pairs of suitably formed members arranged to alternately reverse and angularly deflect the gas stream as it impinges upon successive rows of said member.

10. A process of annealing cellular glass products which process comprises conducting the glass upon a forarninous conveyor moving through a series of temperature zones graduated in temperature from a value above the annealing temperature down through and below the annealing temperature, independently circulating the gases within each temperature zone substantially wholly in one direction vertically upward and diffusing the incoming gases of each temperature zone beneath the conveyor to provide substantial horizontal uniformity of temperature within the zone.

1l. Annealing apparatus comprising, in combnation, wall means forming a relatively long annealing tunnel, conveyor means for advancing the articles to be treated through the tunnel at a level intermediate the top and bottom thereof so that the tunnel is virtually divided into upper and lower zones by said means, a longitudinally extending series of individual gas ducts interconnecting said upper and lower zones to provide a plurality of paths outside of the tunnel proper through which tunnel atmosphere may be passed from one of said zones to the other, means in dividual to said ducts for producing downdraft therein, fireboxes individual to and in draft connection with the inlet end of said ducts, whereby said draft producing means may draw rebox gases into the inlet end of the ducts, said fireboxes being mounted along the roof of the tunnel.

12. Annealing apparatus according to claim 1l, wherein said draft connection comprises a downcomer passage into the upper end of which atmosprhleric air may enter through a valve-controlled i et.

13. Annealing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said draft connection comprises a passage on which the duct inlet faces and whose lower end is open to the upper zone of said tunnel.

ARVID l-I. BAKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,214,217 Plante Jan. 30, 1917 1,232,798 Heichert July 10, 1917 1,641,899 Nesdahl Sept. 6, 1927 1,837,311 Amsler Dec. 22, 1931 1,938,889 Bloom Dec. 12, 1933 2,039,429 Lydon May 5, 1936 2,172,771 Norris Sept. 12, 1939 2,262,243 Lord Nov. 11, 1941 2,275,263 Merrill Mar. 3, 1942 2,401,582 Owen June 4, 1946 OTHER REFERENCES Electric Furnaces, page 20, General Electric Publication, Sept. 1931. 

